The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-12-31
BETH'S HINT.


school with her head bent thoughtfully.
The matter to which she was giving SO
much thought was this: All the girls III
her class for the past two weeks had been
wearing toboggan caps, OF blue, OF white
of pink, of red and of other colore, and
Beth's heart longed for one intensely.
But she had spent all of her monthly al
lowanee soon after she received it, and
she knew she could not have any more
money for two weeks. But, oh, how she
wanted one of those bright capsl
at can't bear to be the odd one" she
eaid, half aloud; "sll the class have then,
and they are 30 pretty; but if ask man.
ma to get me one she will probably give
me- a little lecture about spending my
money so fast and tell me must wait till
the first of the month, but it does seem
as itI could never go to school another
day without a toboggan cap.
All that morning in school her mind
wandered from her books to the longed-
for cap, and she tried hard to think OF
some plan by which she might obtain it.
On her way home at noon, after she had
parted with the other girls, she took up
the same train OF thought, and when she
hung up her cloak and hat in the hall at
home she said to herself: 81 believe III
lust give little hint at the dnner-table,
and see il it will do any good"
When dinner was announced a merry
company gathered around the table.
Grandpa Raymond and Aunt Lois we're
there for visit, and there was so much
talking that Beth almost despaired OF
getting in her little hint; but finally
Grandpa Raymond said something about
the change of fashions since he wasa boy,
and Beth said, quickly:
"Oh, grandpa, have You poticed those
bIight-colored caps the girls are all wear
ing this winter? They are SO pretty. L
want one so much"
Grandpa said he thought he had seen
them, and then the conversation changed
and Beth could only wonder whether the
hint had taken effect.
As she started for school her mother
asked her to do little shopping for her
after school was ont.
She smiled as she handed Beth the
money, saying:
"If you have money enough left, L
think you may get one of those caps, il
You want it 80 much"
Beth exclaimed, "Oh, thank you, man.
mel l do want it very muchp and away
she went gaily.
After she had bought what her mother
wanted, she found che had money enough
left to buy the cap, SO she selected pref
ty white one.
When she reached home, her mother
was out to see sick neighbor, so she took
the cap to her room to try it on. As she
entered the room, she found small pack
age on the bed, marked:
"For Beth, from Aunt Lois
She opened it quickly, and found a
pink toboggan cap.
"Myl what shall do with two~ she
said, in surprise.
Just at this moment her little sister
Mamie came into the room with a small
package in her hand.
Grandpa has just come back" said
she. HE bought wax doll for me, and
this is for you"
Beth opened the package, and found
toboggsn cap of delicate blue.
Her cheeks flushed as she took it from
the papsr. She said nothing, but she be-
gan to feel little uncomfortable over the
success of her hint. She sat down with
her books for about half an hour, when
she heard her brother Rob whistling
Yankee Doodle, and coming upstairs two
steps at time.
"Here sister Elizabeth he said